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TGF News Briefs
From our fabulous News Hawks!
Have you seen a TG-related news story online or in your local paper? Send it in to TGF and become a News Hawk! Don't assume we know everything that's out there, because you are our eyes and ears. To file a story, send it in to Cindy.
ICTLEP Elects New Exec
The Transgender Law Conference announces that it
has
elected Sharon Stuart/Thomas Heitz as its new Executive Director.
Stuart/Heitz, a bi-gendered activist of long standing, was an original
Director of ICTLEP when it formed in 1991 and has her Juris Doctorate from
the University of Kansas Law School. Her new position begins on 15 March
1998. She replaces Phyllis Frye.
Stuart/Heitz sees her job as providing a year-long transition from a
"founder-driven" organization (which began in 1991 when its founder was the
only, totally out and totally active, TG lawyer in the United States) to one
with more structure and a deeper organizational base. "Today, with so many
TG lawyers and TG law students being out or coming out, there is a growing
pool of folks who can take on the miriad of bar-association-styled committee
work that needs to be done," states Stuart/Heitz.
Out-going ED and founder, Phyllis Randolph Frye, told her Board three weeks
ago that she had had enough. "Being an activist for over two decades is one
thing, but being on the point for all of those two-plus decades is more than
enough. And six years as Executive Director of this organization with six
annual conferences and six annual, bound Proceedings was also enough." Frye
was asked by Stuart/Heitz to remain as a Director in order to provide
historical perspective and continuity, and she agreed.
ICTLEP remains ready to serve the Transgender Community and to work in
harmony with the inclusive LGBT Community. Stuart/Heitz asks, "If you are a
legal professional, won't you please contact me and see how you can help to
take TG legal work from this plateau into the next? My Directors and
Moderators need you!"
If you are a current financial contributor, please continue. If you are
not
yet, please consider helping out. Check out the ICTLEP web page at
www.abmall.com/ictlep (and the AOL keyword ICTLEP). Also find ICTLEP
information on www.tgforum.com.
Coleman Booted
Contributed by Elizabeth Parker
Former child star Gary Coleman, from the
Victoria's Secret fashion show in Manhattan earlier this
week. He had shown up in drag (a black plastic raincoat and
Marilyn-style blonde wig) and reportedly demanded to be able
to walk down the runway. The stunt was said to be part of
his upcoming HBO "Comic Relief" special, but security guards
were not amused.
--Via the Reuters
Eddie Holds Own News Show
Contributed by Elizabeth Parker
Transvestite comedian Eddie Izzard tonight brought a touch of colour to
the BBC's flagship current affairs programme Question Time.
The stand-up star, known for his preference for skirts over trousers, kept
the 200-strong audience at Broadcasting House in Glasgow enthralled by his
sharp wit.
Gracing the programme for the first time, Izzard chose a conventional
pinstripe suit -- but no shirt -- to accompany his trademark red lipstick and
gaudy purple nail varnish.
He appeared at ease in his new "straight role" as social commentator
alongside Transport Minister Gavin Strang, the Scottish National Party's
education spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon, and Donald Findlay QC, a Conservative
Party member who led the unsuccessful `Think Twice' campaign in September's
Scottish devolution referendum.
Izzard answered a variety of topical questions, ranging from the Iraqi
situation to the National Lottery, nurses' pay and Tony Blair's Downing
Street receptions.
When asked whether the inquiry into the events on Bloody Sunday would, as
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble fears, re-open old wounds, the comedian
said the initial investigation "seemed to have been a whitewash", and that
now was the time for "truth and justice to come out".
On Iraq, he said the United Nations had to stand firm against the
"brinkmanship" of Saddam Hussain, whom he likened to Hitler and branded "a
dickhead".
--Via the PA News
Your Help Needed
in a Tough CA Battle
For several months representatives of Lambda Letters and LIFE Lobby have
sought to persuade one or more legislators to introduce a bill to provide
penalties for hate crimes against transgendered people and to require police
departments to report the numbers of such crimes to the State Attorney
General. It has not been finalized yet, but we are hopeful that such a bill
will soon be introduced. If so, we will need your help in getting letters to
legislators from the residents of certain key legislative districts.
If the bill is introduced, it would probably first be heard and voted on in
the Assembly Public Safety Committee, probably in March. It would have to be
approved by that committee to remain alive. The following table lists the
committee members (column 1). It also shows the scores they received from
Lambda Letters, in 1997, for their votes on Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender
(L/G/B/T) issues (column 2) and indicates the number of Lambda Letters'
members who live in their districts.
If the bill is introduced, we will need to persuade 5 members of the Public
Safety Committee to vote for it. One of the most effective ways of doing
that is to flood them with mail from the residents of their legislative
districts. However, Lambda Letters has the most members in the districts of
those committee members who are least likely to vote for the bill under any
circumstances. And the bill would be on a cutting edge issue. It would take a
lot to persuade even those legislators with good voting records to vote for
the bill. Thus, we need to assure that even the good legislators get plenty
of mail from their constituents.
Please help us find supportive individuals and groups who live within the
districts of the legislators on the Assembly Public Safety Committee,
particularly the districts where we currently have few or no Lambda Letters
members. We need to have a list of groups and individuals ready to sign
letters by the beginning of March.
The following table shows the cities represented by each of the legislators.
If you have friends from those cities, or contacts with groups from those
cities (such as an MCC, a PFLAG chapter, etc.), please put them in touch with
us as soon as possible. You or they may contact us at (916) 965-6851 or send
us an e-mail at LambdaLP@aol.com.
The Districts and the cities within them are as follows:
Assembly District 10, Larry Bowler
Acampo, Carmichael, Clements, Elk Grove, Galt, Herald, Linden, Lockeford,
Lodi, Mather AFB, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento, Sloughhouse, Stockton,
Thornton, Wilton, Woodbridge
Assembly District 16, Don Perata
Alameda, Emeryville, Mills College, Oakland, Piedmont
Assembly District 25, George House
Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Big Oak Flat, Catheys Valley, Chinese Camp, Chowchilla,
Coarsegold, Columbia, Coulterville, Denair, El Portal, Fresno, Friant,
Groveland, Hickman, Hornitos, Hughson, Jamestown, La Grange, Long Barn,
Madera, Mariposa, Mi Wuk Village, Midpines, Moccasin, Modesto, North Fork,
Oneals, Oakdale, Oakhurst, Pinecrest, Raymond, Riverbank, Sonora,
Soulsbyville, Strawberry, Tuolumne, Turlock, Twain Harte, Waterford, Wishon,
Yosemite National Park
Assembly District 40, Robert Hertzberg
Canoga Park, Encino, North Hollywood, Northridge, Panorama City, Reseda,
Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Winnetka
Assembly District 47, Kevin Murray
Culver City, Inglewood, Los Angeles, Marina Del Rey
Assembly District 52, Carl Washington
Compton, Gardena, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Paramount
Assembly District 58, Grace Napolitano
Cerritos, El Monte, Los Angeles, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Rosemead,
Santa Fe Springs, Whittier
Assembly District 75, Jan Goldsmith
Alpine, Borrego Springs, Boulevard, Campo, Del Mar, Descanso, Dulzura, El
Cajon, Escondido, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Julian, La Mesa, Lakeside, Pine
Valley, Potrero, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, Santee, Spring
Valley
Please give this important bill the maximum possible push through the
Assembly Public Safety Committee by helping us find supportive people and
groups in the above cities.
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